Flexible container bag

ABSTRACT

A flexible container bag having a pallet function. To the bottom part of a flexible container bag body ( 2 ), tubular soft fork pocket members ( 3 ) are fixed at two positions. The fork pocket member ( 3 ) has opposite end parts in the longitudinal direction projecting outward from the container bag body ( 2 ). Inner face materials ( 6, 8 ) are fixed to the inside of the fork pocket member ( 3 ). Each inner face material ( 6, 8 ) is formed of a woven cloth employing PP monofilament.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns a flexible container bag havingflexibility and, particularly, it relates to a flexible container bagthat functions as a pallet.

BACKGROUND ART

Heretofore, it has been generally known to manufacture a container baghaving flexibility by using, for example, non-woven fabrics or sheetsmade of plastics, in which various kinds of cargoes are loaded in thecontainer bag for transportation.

By the way, since the existent flexible container bags have a structureonly of the function as a container, they involve a problem of requiringpallets additionally to the flexible container bag upon handling byusing a forklift.

In view of the above, it has been proposed a flexible container bag inwhich recesses are formed on both sides at the bottom of the containerbag to form a shape where only the central portion protrudes downwardsand, upon transportation by the use of forks, forks of the forklift areinserted into the recessed portions on both sides of the protrusion.

Since the existent flexible container bags require no pallets they havemany advantages such as easy handlability but involve a problem that thestability during storage is poor since the bottom of the container bagis not flat. Further, they also involve a problem when the container bagis transported by using the forklift that the container bag may possiblydetach from a portion on the fork when the bottom of the container bagis bent since the container bag is merely placed on the fork of theforklift.

The present invention has been accomplished in view of the foregoingsituations and it is an object thereof to provide a flexible containerbag capable of transportation with no use of a pallet by using aforklift, capable of inserting forks of a forklift into fork pocketswith no troubles even in a case where heavy weight articles arecontained in a container bag main body, free from the worry that thecontainer bag main body should fall from a position on the fork duringtransportation by the forklift and having excellent stability duringstorage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible container inwhich manufacture of fork pocket members are easy and, in addition,insertion of forks into the fork pockets is easy.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible container bagwith no worry that the top end portions of protrusions of fork pocketmembers are not rolled into the fork pockets when the forks are insertedinto the fork pockets.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible container bagcapable of easily inserting forks into fork pockets even in a case whereheavy weight product is fully contained in the container bag main body.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible container bagcapable of keeping fork insertion ends of fork pockets always open.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible container bagcapable of inserting forks easily into fork pockets and capable ofopening fork insertion ends of the fork pockets by merely containing acargo into a container bag main body.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible container bagcapable of inserting forks of a forklift smoothly into fork pockets evenin a state where the inside of the container bag main body is empty, ora small quantity of cargoes is contained therein, and free from thedisadvantage that the fork pocket members are creased and the forkscannot be inserted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible container bagwith no worry that a container bag main body is detached from forks evenin a case where a flowable cargo such as a resin is contained in thecontainer bag main body.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible container bagcapable of inserting forks smoothly into fork pockets even in a casewhere a cargo such as rice no more having flowability when packed iscontained in a container bag main body by reducing the resistancebetween the fork pocket member and the fork.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible container bagfree from the disadvantage that a container bag main body moves and theforks cannot be inserted even in a case where forks of a forklift areinserted into fork pockets in a state where a cargo is not contained inthe container bag main body.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has a feature in comprising a flexible containerbag main body with a substantially flat bottom; a soft fork pockets eachdisposed at the bottom of the container bag main body and forming asubstantially cylindrical fork pocket in a state attached to thecontainer bag main body, in which at least the lower surface at the topend on the fork insertion side of the fork pocket member is protrudedoutward of the outer edge of the container bag main body.

Since the fork pocket member is disposed at the bottom of the containerbag main body, transportation by the use of a forklift is possiblewithout using a pallet. Further, since at least the lower surface at thetop end on the fork insertion side of the fork pocket member isprotruded outward of the outer edge of the container bag main body, thefork can be inserted easily into the fork pocket even in a case where acargo is fully contained in the container bag main body.

Further, the present invention has a feature in that the top end of thefork insertion side in the fork pocket member is cylindrically protrudedoutward of the outer edge of the container bag main body and an upperhalf and a lower half of the protruded portion are cut to separate.Then, this allows easy manufacture of the fork pocket member and easyinsertion of the fork into the fork pocket.

Further, the present invention has a feature in that a rigidityimproving treatment is applied to at least the lower half of theprotrusion in the fork pocket member.

Then, this enables to avoid the protrusion of the fork pocket memberfrom being rolled into the fork pocket upon insertion of the fork intothe fork pocket and allows smooth insertion of the fork into the forkpocket.

Further, the present invention has a feature in that the container bagmain body is provided with a pulling-up member for upwardly pulling-upthe upper half of the protrusion in the fork pocket member.

This keeps the top end of the fork pocket member in a flared or openedstate even in a case where a heavy weight product is fully contained inthe container bag main body and allows easy insertion of the fork intothe fork pocket.

Further, the present invention has a feature in that the upper half ofthe protrusion in the fork pocket member is provided with an insertionend reinforcement that bends and protrudes upward.

This allows the fork insertion end of the fork pocket to be kept alwaysopen.

Further, the present invention has a feature in that the upper half ofthe protrusion of the fork pocket member is fixed to the outer surfaceof the container bag main body in a state pulled upward.

This allows easy insertion of the fork into the fork pocket and, inaddition, enables to open the fork insertion end of the fork pocket bymerely containing a cargo in the container bag main body. Further, alsoin a case where the container bag main body is loaded being stacked onthe container bag main body at the lower stage, the position for thefork pocket can easily be recognized visually from the outside.

Further, the present invention has a feature in that at least an upperportion on the inner surface of the fork pocket member is formed of awoven fabric using plastic filaments.

This can provide the upper portion on the inner surface of the forkpocket with a slidable surface having a predetermined rigidity and canavoid the disadvantage that the fork pocket member is creased and thefork cannot be inserted even in a case where the fork is inserted intothe fork pocket in a state where a cargo is not contained in thecontainer bag main body.

Further, the present invention has a feature in that the woven-fabric isformed by using plastic filaments, in which warps extending in thedirection of inserting the fork have a smaller diameter while the weftshave a larger diameter.

This can avoid the disadvantage that the container bag main body shoulddetach from the fork even in a case where a flowable cargo such as resinis contained in the container bag main body.

Further, the present invention has a feature in that the woven-fabric isformed by using plastic filaments, in which warps extending in thedirection of inserting the fork have a larger diameter, while wefts havea smaller diameter.

Then, even in a case where a cargo such as rice no more havingflowability when packed is contained in the container bag main body,resistance between the fork pocket member and the fork can be decreasedto allow smooth insertion of the fork into the fork pocket.

Further, the present invention has a feature in that a less slippytreatment is applied to at least one of the grounding surface of thecontainer bag main body or the fork pocket member.

Then, even when the fork of the forklift is inserted into the forkpocket in a state where a cargo is not contained in the container bagmain body, there is no disadvantage that the container bag main bodymoves and the fork cannot be inserted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a constitutional view showing a flexible container bag as afirst embodiment according to this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the container bag shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a constitutional view of the container bag main body shown inFIG. 1 as viewed from the bottom thereof.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view showing details of a forkpocket member.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line V-V in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a second embodiment according to thisinvention, corresponding to FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of an insertionend reinforcing member.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a third embodiment according to this invention,corresponding to FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the container bag shown in FIG. 8.

BEST MODE FOR PRACTICING THE INVENTION

This invention is to be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 show a flexible container bag as a first embodimentaccording to this invention in which a flexible container bag 1 has aflexible container bag main body 2 in the form of a container having asubstantially flat bottom. Flexible fork pocket members 3 for formingcylindrical fork pockets P for insertion of forks of a forklift notillustrated are attached at two positions at the bottom of the containerbag main body 2. A bottom cover 4 is disposed on the side of the lowersurface of the fork pockets so as to cover the fork pocket members 3 onthe lower surface and so as to be detachably connected with thecontainer bag main body 2.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, each of the fork pocket members 3comprises an upper surface member 5 attached with an inner surfacemember 6 on the lower surface thereof and a lower surface member 7attached with an inner surface member 8 at the upper surface thereof. Asshown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the length for both of the surface members 5and 7 is set such that the both longitudinal ends thereof protrudeoutward of the outer edges of the container bag main body 2. Then, asshown in FIG. 5, the protruded portion is applied with a rigidityincreasing treatment by being wrapped with a band-like edge wrappingmembers 9 and 10 and stitched, so that when forks are inserted into thefork pockets P, the ends for each of the surface members 5 and 7 are notrolled into the fork pockets P.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, both of the surface members 5 and7 are stitched to the container bag main body 2 only at the portionscorresponding to the bottom of the container bag main body 2 and,accordingly, both of the longitudinal ends for both of the surfacemembers 5 and 7 are cut to separate from each other. Thus, the forks canbe inserted easily into the fork pockets P.

As shown in FIG. 5, a ring-like rope passing member 11 is stitched to aportion of the upper surface member 5 stitched with the edge wrappingmember 9 and both of the longitudinal ends of the upper surface member 5are pulled upward by binding a pull-up string 12 disposed on the lateralside of the container bag 2 to the rope passing member 11. Thus, the topend of the fork pocket member 3 is flared upward and downward forallowing easy insertion of the forks into the fork pockets P.

On the other hand, both of the inner surface members 6 and 8 are formedof woven fabrics, for example, made of PP mono-filaments in which thefineness of the filament is selected between 400 d (denier) and 200 dand in which filaments of diameter different from each other are usedfor warps extending in the fork insertion direction and wefts inperpendicular thereto.

That is, in a case where the diameter of the warp is made smaller andthe diameter of the weft is made larger, a resistance relative to theforks of the forklift is somewhat increased. Accordingly, in a casewhere a cargo having flowability, for example, a resin is contained inthe flexible container bag 1, detaching of the flexible container bag 1from the forks during transportation can be prevented effectively byusing the woven fabric having warps of smaller diameter and wefts oflarger diameter.

On the other hand, in a case where the warps have a larger diameter andthe wefts have a small diameter, resistance relative to the fork of theforklift is somewhat reduced. Thus, in a case where a cargo no morehaving flowability when packed, for example, rise is contained in theflexible container bag 1, the forks can be inserted smoothly into theforks pockets P to avoid the disadvantage that the forks are caught andcan not be inserted by the use of the woven fabric having warps oflarger diameter and the wefts of smaller diameter.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, plural binding rings 13 are attached toboth end edges of the fork pocket members 3 arranged side by side in thebottom cover 4, respectively, and the bottom cover 4 is connected withthe container bag main body 2 by binding each of the binding rings 13 tothe binding string 14 disposed on the lateral side of the container bagmain body 2. The bottom cover 4 may optionally be omitted and, in thiscase, when the container bag main body 2 has a discharge port at thebottom thereof, it is preferred to cover the discharge port by aprotection cover for preventing intrusion of obstacles.

Since the fork pocket members 3 are attached integrally to the bottom ofthe container bag main body 2, the container bag main body 2 can betransported easily and safely by a forklift without using the pallet.

In the first embodiment described above, while explanation has been madeto a case of forming each of the inner surface members 6 and 8 with awoven fabric made of PP mono-filaments, each of the inner surfacemembers 6 and 8 may be formed of a woven fabric made of PEmono-filaments when it is necessary to improve the slidability furtherrelative to the forks of the forklift.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show a second embodiment according to this inventionin which an insertion end reinforcing member 20 is used instead of therope passing member 11 and the pull-up string 12 in the firstembodiment.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, insertion end reinforcing members 20, forexample, made of plastic ropes are disposed, respectively, to theportion of the upper surface member 5 protruding outward of the outeredge of the container bag main body 2. Each of the insertion endreinforcing members 20 is secured to the upper surface member 5, forexample, by being wrapped and stitched with the upper surface member andthe inner surface member 6. As shown in FIG. 7, the reinforcing memberis shaped to convexly bend upward. Thus, the end of the fork pocket Pcan be always kept open.

Other constitutions and functions are identical with those of the firstembodiment.

Since the insertion end reinforcing member 20 is disposed, the end ofthe fork pocket P can be always kept open and the fork of the forkliftcan be inserted easily into the fork pocket P.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show a third embodiment according to this invention inwhich the rope passing member 11 and the pull-up string 2 in the firstembodiment are omitted, the end of the upper surface material 5 issecured directly to the outer surface of the container bag main body 2and a less slippy sheet 30 is disposed to the grounding surface of thecontainer bag main body 2 and the fork pocket member 3.

As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 the portion of the upper surface member 5protruding outward of the outer edge of the container bag main body 2 issecured in a state being pulled upward to the outer surface of thecontainer bag main body 2 by stitching or the like, while a less slippysheet 30 such as made of an EVA sheet or rubber sheet is disposedintegrally to the grounding surface of the container bag main body 2 andthe lower surface member 7, for example, by means of lamination, sizingor sticking.

Other constitutions and functions are identical with those in the firstembodiment described above.

When a cargo is contained in the container bag main body 2 by securingthe end of the upper surface member 5 secured to the outer surface ofthe container bag main body 2, the end of the upper member 5 is pulledupward. Accordingly, the end of the fork pocket P can be opened.Further, since the end of the upper surface member 5 is exposed to theouter surface of the container bag main body 2, the position for thefork pocket P can easily be recognized visually. Further, slipping ofthe flexible container 1 can be prevented by the less slippy sheet 30and there is no worry that the flexible container bag 1 moves uponinsertion of the forks of the forklift into the fork pockets P in astate where a cargo is not contained in the container bag main body 2 toinhibit the insertion of the forks.

In each of the embodiments described above, explanation has been made toa case where the inner surface members 6 and 8 are disposed both to theupper surface and the lower surface of the fork pocket member 3, theintended effect can be expected by disposing the inner surface member 6at least only on the side of the upper surface member 5.

For each of the embodiments described above, while explanation has beenmade to a case of forming the inner surface members 6 and 8 with thewoven fabric made of the mono-filaments, they may be formed of plasticfilms.

It has been confirmed by the experiment made by the present inventorsthat, in a case of using the plastic film, it is preferred that thesliding friction coefficient thereof is preferably within a range shownin Table 1 and the strength thereof is preferably within a range ofvalues shown in Table 2.

TABLE 1 Dynamic friction Sliding angle coefficient converted value min0.10  5.7° max 0.18 10.2°

TABLE 2 Piercing strength Tear strength [N] [N] Vertical 39 or more 200or more Horizontal 28 or more 170 or more

Further, in each of the embodiments described above, while explanationhas been made to a case in which both of the upper surface member 5 andthe lower surface member 7 protrude at both of the longitudinal endsoutward of the outer edges of the container bag main body 2, theintended effect can be obtained so long as at least both of longitudinalends of the lower surface member 7 protrude outward of the outer edge ofthe container bag main body 2.

Further, in each of the embodiments described above, while theexplanation has been made to a case where the fork pocket member 3 has acompletely cylindrical shape, the fork pocket member 3 may also bedefined, for example, by stitching a band-like member to the bottom ofthe bag main body 2.

As has been described above, since this invention comprises a flexiblecontainer bag main body having a substantially flat bottom; and a softfork pocket member disposed at the bottom of the container bag main bodyand forming a substantially cylindrical fork pocket in a state attachedto the container bag main body, in which at least the lower surface atthe top end of the fork pocket member in the fork insertion sideprotrudes outward of the outer edge of the container bag main body, thecontainer bag can be transported by disposing the fork pocket members atthe bottom of the container bag main body by using the forklift withoutusing the pallet.

Further, since at least the lower surface at the top end of the forkpocket member on the fork insertion side is protruded outward of theouter edge of the container bag main body, the fork can be insertedeasily into fork pocket even in a case where a cargo is contained fullyin the container bag main body.

Further, in accordance with this invention, since the top end in thefork pocket member on the fork insertion side is protruded cylindricallyoutward of the outer edge of the container bag main body and theupper-half and the lower-half of the protruded portion are cut toseparate, the fork pocket member can be manufactured easily and the forkcan be inserted easily into the fork pocket.

Further, in accordance with this invention, since at least thelower-half portion of the protruded portion in the fork pocket member isprovided with the rigidity increasing treatment the protruded portion ofthe fork pocket member is not rolled into the fork pocket upon insertionof the fork into the fork pocket, and the forks can be inserted smoothlyinto the fork pocket.

Further, in accordance with this invention, since the pull-up member forpulling the upper-half of the protruded portion in the fork pocketmember is disposed to the container bag main body, the top end of thefork pocket member is in a flared state even in a case where a heavyweight product is fully contained in the container bag main body, sothat the forks can be inserted easily into the fork pockets.

Further, in accordance with this invention, since an insertion endreinforcing member convexly bent upward is disposed to the upper-half ofthe protruded portion in the fork pocket member, the fork insertion endof the fork pocket can be kept always open.

Further, in accordance with this invention, since the upper-half of theprotruded portion in the fork pocket member is secured to the outersurface of the container bag main body in the state pulled upward, thefork can be inserted easily into the fork pocket and, in addition, thefork insertion end of the fork pocket can be opened by merely containingcargoes in the container bag main body. Further, even in a case wherethe container bag main body is stacked on the container bag main body atthe lower stage, the position for the fork pocket can be easilyrecognized visually from the outside.

Further, in accordance with this invention, since at least the upperportion on the inner surface of the fork pocket member is formed of thewoven fabric made of plastic filaments, the upper portion on the innersurface of the fork pocket member has a slippy surface with apredetermined rigidity and, even in a case where the forks are insertedinto the fork pockets in a state where a cargo is not contained in thecontainer bag main body, there is no worry that the fork pocket membersare creased and the forks can not be inserted.

Further, in accordance with this invention, since the woven fabric isformed of the plastic filaments in which the warps extending in the forkinsertion direction have the smaller diameter and the wefts have thelarger diameter, even in a case where a cargo having flowability such asresin is contained in the container bag main body, there is no worrythat the container bag main body detaches from the forks.

Further, in accordance with this invention, since the woven fabric isformed of plastic filaments in which warps extending in the forkinsertion direction have the larger diameter and wefts have the smallerdiameter, even in a case where a cargo no more having flowability whenpacked such as rice is contained in the container bag main body,resistance between the fork pocket member and the forks can be reducedand fork can be inserted smoothly into the fork pockets.

Further, in accordance with this invention, since the grounding surfaceof at least one of the container bag main body and the fork pocketmember is applied with the less slippy treatment, even in a case ofinserting the forks of the forklift into the fork pockets in a statewhere a cargo is not contained in the container bag main body, there isno worry that the container bag main body moves and the forks can not beinserted.

INDUSTRIAL FIELD OF USE

As has been described above, the flexible container bag according tothis invention is useful as a flexible container bag that functions as apallet and, particularly, even in a case where a heavy weight cargo iscontained in the container bag main body, the forks of the forklift canbe inserted easily into the fork pockets, and is suitable as a flexiblecontainer bag also having favorable stability during transportation orstorage.

1. A flexible container bag, comprising a flexible container bag mainbody having an outer edge and a substantially flat bottom; and a softfork pocket member forming substantially a cylindrical fork pocket,having an upper surface member, a lower surface member, and a forkinsertion side, attached to the container bag main body in which atleast a lower surface of the upper surface member at a top end of thefork pocket member on the fork insertion side protrudes beyond the outeredge of the container bag main body; wherein the top end of the forkpocket member on the fork insertion side thereof protrudes cylindricallyoutward of the outer edge of the container bag main body to provide aprotruded portion, and an upper-half and a lower-half of the protrudedportion are cut to separate.
 2. A flexible container bag as defined inclaim 1, wherein at least a lower-half of the protruded portion in thefork pocket member is applied with a rigidity increasing treatment.
 3. Aflexible container bag as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein the containerbag main body has a pull-up member for pulling-up the upper-half of theprotruded portion in the fork pocket member upward.
 4. A flexiblecontainer bag as defined in claim 1, wherein the upper-half of theprotruded portion in the fork pocket member has an insertion endreinforcing member convexly bent upward.
 5. A flexible container bag asdefined in claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper-half of the protruded portionin the fork pocket member is fixed to the outer surface in a statepulled-upward to the outer surface of the container bag main body.
 6. Aflexible container bag as defined in claim 1, 2 or 4 wherein at leastthe upper portion on the inner surface of the fork pocket member isformed of a woven fabric made of plastic filaments.
 7. A flexiblecontainer bag as defined in claim 6, wherein the woven fabric is made ofplastic filaments in which warps extended in the fork insertiondirection have a smaller diameter and wefts have a larger diameter.
 8. Aflexible container bag as defined in claim 6, wherein the woven fabricis made of plastic filaments in which warps extended in the forkinsertion direction have a larger diameter and wefts have a smallerdiameter.
 9. A flexible container bag as defined in claim 1, wherein agrounding surface of at least one of the container bag main body and thefork pocket member is applied with a less slippy treatment.